Join hundreds of Austin’s industry leaders and key influencers for an evening of celebration and fundraising for our state’s lifeblood and greatest natural resource, the Texas Colorado River.
Cocktails for the Colorado is CRA’s largest and most important fundraiser of the year. Your support will fund Colorado River Alliance’s mission and empower Texans with knowledge about how to help protect the Texas Colorado River to ensure its long-term vitality.
RESERVE YOUR TABLE & TICKETS NOW
2022 JOHN LAY RIVER HERO AWARD HONOREES
Bill McLean & Family
ABOUT THE JOHN LAY RIVER HERO AWARD
Every year since 2001, Colorado River Alliance Board has honored an individual, couple, group, business, or organization for contributions to the preservation and protection of the Texas Colorado River. The award, was renamed in honor of John Lay in 2020 for his outstanding outstanding service and commitment to protecting our river in hopes of continuing his impactful legacy and his lifelong commitment to resource stewardship, education, and community building.
Past honorees have included Central Texas business leaders, corporations, environmentalists, elected officials, LCRA staff, news outlets, a photographer, a film maker, and vineyard owners.
PAST JOHN LAY RIVER RIVER HONOREES
2001 Mark Rose, Ken Armbrister, Kirk Watson, Les Apelt, Pete Laney, Rick Perry
2002 Haskell Simon, Elisabeth Welsh, Robby Cook, Susan Combs, Tex Robertson, The Lake LBJ Fish and Habitat Committee
2004 Will Wynn, John Graves, John Moore, Mary Eastberg, Quentin Martin, Wyman Meinzer
2005 Jeff Wentworth, Pam Meier, CH2M Hill, Chairman Kathleen Hartnett White, Greg B. Westmoreland, Vanishing TX River Cruise
2006 Patricia and Robert Ayres, Judy McCoy, Ed & Susan Auler, David Dewhurst, John P. Cowan
2007 Andrew Sansom, Woodbine Development, Michael & Pam Reese, Jimmie Dale & Janet Gilmore, Meredith Keelan, Tom Craddick
2008 Joe Beal, Kip Averitt, Pete Winstead, Barbara ten Brink, Lady Bird Johnson
2009 Stephanie Koenig, Troy Fraser, PBS&J Environmental Commitment, Ray Benson, Turk Pipkin
2010 Hughes and Betsy Abell, Austin American-Statesman, Bill Moore, Matthew Evans
2011 Debbie Richardson, Florence Shapiro
2012 Charles Williams, John Burke
2013 Ray Wilkerson
2014 Gary Farmer
2015 The Family of Lyndon & Lady Bird Johnson
2016 Pam Akins
2017 Peggy Winkler
2018 Event did not take place
2019 25th Anniversary – honored all past honorees
2020 Tim Timmerman
2021 Kyndel & Laura Bennett